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“You’ve gotten everything ready for my marriage, haven’t you?”

After the meeting ended, I turned to Fleon who had been sitting cross-legged on the couch and resting his finger on his cravat. His hair which was usually perfectly styled was now in a slight mess as he rolled his sleeves up and frowned. It was clear where his cold metallic gaze was directed at.

“Wow, your gaze is going to pierce my face at this rate, Fleon.”

My sideburns were burning.

“Fleo-on?”

“I mean, brother.”

Teasing him any more was only going to send me on a one-way trip to the fiery pits of hell so I lowered my head so as to not slight him. Then, I carefully turned my head away to meet Rebecca’s.

“Rebecca, what have you heard from the desert?”

“They seemed to be confused and wary.”

“But how can we slip through their tight defences? They must be wondering if she’s actually in a relationship.”

“Well, that might be the case but it looks more like she’s in trouble. According to the rumours surrounding Princess Ahasia and the Crown Prince, the general public…”

“Ah, that’s enough. I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

“… seem to think that they’re on good terms.”

“You should stop speaking, Ducal Princess.”

An uncomfortable Fleon interrupted Rebecca’s explanation. She raised her fine eyebrows for a moment but she held her displeasure in because he was a prince.

“Anyway, it is still up to speculation as to who the prince of the rumour is. It is quite interesting.”

“Of course they’re speculating. Since no one is actually getting married.”

Even without fire, smoke could still be seen spewing from a chimney. How could I expect them to find the truth when I had created a rumour about something that wasn’t happening in the first place? Would any of them dare to approach any of the princes to ask if they were going out with the princess? Even if they did, their throats would get sliced and no one would dare to ask again. Although Fleon and Dane were not as strong as the other princes, it was not to the point where anyone could approach them casually.

“The way they look at me annoys the hell out of me.”

“Shouldn’t they be staring that way at me as well?”

“You’re typically good with women that’s why.”

Fleon was the successor to the Temple of Vulcanus, home to the best craftsmen in the Empire while Dane was a competent prince who was now working for the 2nd Administration in recognition of his administrative abilities and business skills.

Well, while one was considered a dimwit, the other was the Chief of the ‘Emperor’s Shadows’ who dealt with the emperor’s affairs. Come to think of it, the party I was in… was filled with overpowered characters, wasn’t it? Excluding me, of course. No, these kinds of thoughts wouldn’t do me any good. I had already given up on having such useless ideas.

Fleon was once again getting angry with Dan and Lord Ray while Penne seemed to be immersed in a serious exchange with Soricks and Meta. And when I looked up, I could suddenly feel a deep gaze on me. The one staring at me was none other than Rebecca.

“Rebecca, do you have something to say?”

“Ah.”

Rebecca looked slightly surprised. I guessed she must not have realised that she had been staring at me. I blinked my eyes at Rebecca before tilting my head. I nodded my head as if to signal her that she was free to say anything she wanted.

“I just have a few questions. About the help you are providing the desert princess.”

With her deep dark eyes, Rebecca stared straight at me. As per usual, her gaze was steadily fixed on mine. But I spotted a moment of hesitation before she spoke.

“Mistress, you mentioned how you are helping the desert princess so that we can benefit from the kingdom but wouldn’t it be easier to join hands with the Prime Minister of the desert kingdom instead? In other words, we could just help the traitors and aid the rebellion.”

Rebecca’s quiet gaze had lingered on the ground for a while before capturing me. She continued staring straight at me without any hesitation.

“That country is already on the verge of collapse. I find it unlikely that it’ll last for another 100 years. Hence, the quickest and easiest way for us to earn profit would be to join hands with the Prime Minister. But I do not know why you are choosing to help the princess instead, mistress.”

Before I realised it, our surroundings had quietened down. I could feel Dane, Fleon and the patrols, who had been in their own conversations, looking this way. They were keeping quiet but they seemed curious.

“If I wanted to draw attention, wouldn’t there only be one answer?”

“You mean the attention of all the nobles? You can do that without using Princess Ahasia. But why are you still helping her?”

Rebecca was asking me why I was so willing to take this loss and help Ahasia. Well, why was I helping Ahasia? She had asked me for help, hadn’t she? No, was it because she was going to kill me?

But in retrospect, that didn’t seem to be the case. I could have refused her request for help and avoided my death without involving her. Rebecca was right. Why was I? Why did I have to help Ahasia? It must have been fine as long as I stayed alive.

“Hm, Rebecca, what do you think will catch your eye?”

When I looked up, our gazes met. I asked her once more. But she soon answered indifferently.

“Drawing attention is easy enough.”

“How so?”

“It’d be enough if I were to marry the 6th Prince.”

Her words made Fleon choke on his tea. And as if that was enough, Fleon hunched over and let out a rasping cough.

“… Are you being serious?”

Rebecca stared at the ground for a moment before she pointed her dark eyes towards me. To my surprise, it looked as if she had already made up her mind.

“Yes.”

Hold on, what was she deciding on all by herself? Dane patting Fleon’s back from the side was a rare sight.

“If you need something to draw their attention to, it’d be better if he married me.”

“Hold on.”

“Ah, should we get engaged first?”

“Ducal Princess!”

Fleon could not help but to raise his voice. But he sounded dismayed.

“W-Why would I be marrying you?”

“Do you not like me?”

“What?”

“That’s strange. I didn’t think I was lacking in any areas.”

I could only stand there and blink. I glanced at the red-faced Fleon once more before looking back at Rebecca who was standing up straight. I slowly spoke.

“Since when have the two of you…?”

“Damn it, no way!”

“Brother, your face is turning red.”

“Because I’m bewildered, dummy. Ha, ducal princess, what the hell are you doing? If you’re just joking around, you better stop now. I am warning you.”

“Do you not like me?”

“That’s not the problem here.”

“Oh, then what’s the problem with Rebecca?”

Fleon looked back at me incredulously. He almost looked as if he was glaring at me.

“Who’s side are you on?”

“Of course.”

I leaned on my chin before tilting my head.

“I’m on Rebecca’s.”

I didn’t know whose side to take or what this situation was about but I would be taking my pretty lady-in-waiting’s side. Afterwards, the stunned Ray and the patrols had to stop Fleon from dashing rashly at her. I quickly moved to cover Rebecca.

“Rebecca.”

I burst out laughing at the sight of Fleon captured by Ray and Penne before casually calling out her name. Even without looking at her, I could feel the gaze on my temple.

“Are you really being serious?”

“… Is it even possible for me to not be serious with anything I say to you, mistress?”

Was that so? Well, my lady-in-waiting has always been a serious and no nonsense person. I turned away from Fleon to face Rebecca. The grey hair I had been staring at a moment ago went very well with the red hair I was staring at now. But I was not asking for her sacrifice.

“Thank you for caring about this. But you don’t need to sacrifice anything. Rebecca, you seem to have no idea what this decision may bring. You will be abandoning the Aventa name and going under Fleon’s wing. “

The Duke of Aventa had long maintained neutrality, siding with neither the 1st Prince nor the 2nd Prince. The current duke was also the Head Templar of Swords and a talented politician. It must not have been easy to stay neutral whilst standing on a scale that could tip in favour of either side.

I had told Penne and Ray separately that the emperor had already been aware of my plans so that they wouldn’t need to feel troubled.

“There’s no need for any of us to be in a stable enough position before we make a move, do we?”

Although Rebecca was my person, she did not represent all of Aventa. That was why I didn’t want to suggest that she take a dangerous path.

“I do not understand. Isn’t a marriage between the 6th Prince and I a good idea? Is there another reason why you are objecting to this?”

“Why wouldn’t there be? As long as Rebecca is in love with the partner she fancies and can find a fruitful relationship… I am just hoping you can live such a happy life.”

“Mistress, is your standard of attaining happiness finding love?”

I was rendered speechless. She was right. Love or marriage does not necessarily correlate with one’s happiness. I stared at her blankly before shaking my head. Now that I thought about it, even after living for so long and having yet to come close to a happy relationship or marriage, I did not know what kind of advice I should give.

“That’s not what I was trying to get at but I just hope that Rebecca can be happy.”

Even so, I truly hope Rebecca can find her happiness. And within that happiness, I was hoping she would meet someone she could truly love. I wish she would be loved unconditionally. I knew the treacherous end the Rebecca from the <Light of Rusbella> faced. I wished that no such tragedies would occur this time.

“I am a little worried. There is this other rumour that is circulating which was not what we started. And it is growing out of control. What are you planning to do with this spread?”

“So, Rebecca, you’re saying that you’d rather get married?”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea. As long as the 6th Prince is agreeable.”

“And it’s clear that I’m not?”

“… Now that I think about it, I don’t think the prince’s agreement is necessary.”

Seeing her like this reminded me of what a formidable enemy she makes. No, had she always been like this? Even in the <Light of Rusbella>, Rebecca had been a clever villainess who did everything she could to win Castor’s love. However, it was still surprising to see her being stubborn and honest when she had always been so obedient.

“Mistress,” Rebecca spoke under the rays of the setting sun.

With my chin resting on my hand, I glanced at her. But what she was staring at was Fleon who was still thrashing about, seemingly frustrated at the fact that we were not listening to him. Soon, a gentle whisper broke out of her. I whipped my head around. She was so soft only I heard her.

“I expected this but… you’re not as slow-witted as you claim to be, mistress.”

I widened at the words I had never expected to leave her lips. But the silence did not last long. No, it was more like I was hesitating because I could not think of a single thing to respond. Then, I slowly smiled.

“Yeah, are you surprised?”

With a firm expression, she lowered her gaze slightly.

“I wasn’t surprised.”

The words she then spoke after a short pause surprised me.

“I was just a little disappointed.”

Disappointed? That was not what I expected her to say. Wouldn’t it make more sense for her to grab and pull at my hair out of anger for deceiving her all this time? Of course, she was not the kind of person to grab her mistress’ hair but I had thought she would at least become furious.

“The other night you told me you had something you really wanted to say to me. Was it the fact that you were not really slow-witted?”

“Well, yes. And can I add on something?”

I glanced at Fleon and hesitated before speaking slowly.

“Just as you were sent here to benefit your family, I have been calculating and scheming my way around you. At least that was the case at first.”

Could I be honest to her? Nothing good would come out of losing her at such a crucial moment. So, I confessed to Rebecca in good faith, though it might harm me in return for being so honest.

“You say at first… does that mean you feel differently now?”